Cottonseed delinting apparatus



July 21, 1953 R. L. JACKSON COTTONSEED DELINTING APPARATUS s sheetssheet 1 Filed May 28, 1949 I INVENTOR. HobufLJacksmz I l a /55am? July 21, 1953 R. 1.. JACKSON 2,646,268

' COTTONSEED DELINTING APPARATUS Filed May 28, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

July 21, 1953 R. L. JACKSON COTTONSEED DBLINTING APPARATUS Filed May 28, 1949 3 Sheets-Shem. 5

IN V EN TOR.

Y ZFbberjLJ Mbm Patented July 21, 1953 UNITED STATES PTENT OFFEQE 2,646,268 COTTONSEED DELINTING APPARATUS Robert L. Jack'son, Lubbock, Tex.

Application May 28, 1949, Serial No. 95,909

. 1 This inv ention relates to improvements in cottonseed delinting apparatus, .more particularly to 4 Claims. (Cl. 26334) a cottonseed. delinting apparatus which is compact and which may be readily charged anddischarged, and which is designed to operate at various angles and which apparatus has a selfcontained burner so as to furnish the proper heat to the delinting chamber by conduction.

Various cottonseed delinting apparatus have been proposed heretofore, but these for the most part were cumbersome and bulky, and utilized heating systems that required the heating of oil or other liquids, and the danger and trouble incident thereto.

In the present invention the delinting device is made of a single composite unit, which is self- 7 contained and may be easily operated by a single operator, if desired, and which will delint cottonseed speedily and efiiciently, and in a greater volume than similar size units'now in general use.

An object of this invention is to provide a cottonseed, delinting device that may be readily.

' charged while the drum of the delinting apparatus is rotating.

A preferred manner of practicing my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device with 'parts broken away, shortened, and shown in section to show the details of construction; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the invention, withparts broken away and removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1,1ooking in the direction as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of a fluid cylinder operated seed discharge'door closer, with parts broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a modified form of a screw type seed discharge door closer;

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view, partly broken away, and partly in section, looking at the left end of the device as seen in Fig. 1; A

' Fig. '7 is a side elevation of a modified form of the device, partly broken away and in section to show the details of constructi n;

Fig. 8 is a cross section view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. '7, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow;

Fig. 9 is an end elevational View, looking at the right hand end of the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 7; and t Fig. 10 is 'a fragmentary view of the end section, on a somewhat enlarged scale, showing structural details of the support for the rear end of the rotatable drum, the driving means therefor, and the means by which halogen gas is introduced into the drum.

With more detailed reference to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive of the drawings, illustrating one embodiment of the invention, the numeral i indicates a support member which has a pivot member 2 at the upper end for mounting frame 3 of the delinting apparatus. The opposite end of the frame 3 is supported by a hydraulic cylinder plunger 4 positioned within a hydraulic cylinder. 5. The hydraulic cylinder is of sufficient length to raise the end of the frame3, to which it is attached, a sufficient height to cause the dumping action of delinted seed therefrom, as 'will be described more fully hereinafter.

The frame 3 has uprights 6 at either end for the mounting of bearings to permit the rotation of the rotatable drum It) on the frame. At the discharge end of the apparatus the bearing structure is indicated at 8, comprising suitable raceways enclosing ball bearings 15. Other conventional bearing structure may, of course, be propa'rticular structure oleher 'll, secured about the opening in the: drum by suitable bolts or other means. A member 9, forming the male portion of the packing gland, has welded thereto a tube 35 through which material is charged into the rotating drum. When the members 4! and 9 are assembled an annular cavity 3! is formed to receive a suitable packing material for this gland. For the purpose of compressing the packing material in the gland a grooved ring 48 is provided, which is secured to the rotating member 4'! by means of stud bolts 54.

drum, and the roller 46 above the axis of the rotatable drum. The rollers 45 engage the outer surface of the member 41 to support the inlet end of the drum, and roller 55 also engages the member :1? as a guide to insure that drum l5 maintains the same relative position with the frame 3 at all times. Rollers 55 and it may be mounted on the cross members ed by means of suitable brackets and antifriction bearings or other equivalent means.

It will be seen that in the structure just described the ball bearings 1 will take any axial thrust due to internal gas pressure in the rotatable drum. The discharge end of the drum H? has an outstanding annular flange ll thereon with brace members I2 extending outwardly therefrom parallel to the axis thereof. A cross member is has a shaft l4 extending outward in axial alignment with drum Ii} and forms an xial m unting therefor. The shaft Hi is journaled in bearing 8 to enable the rotation of drum iii by motor it, which drives through a gear reduction unit H sprockets l3 and i9 chain The motor i6 is mounted on a frame N which is secured to frame 3', and is movable with frames 3 and 3'. The motor maintains driving relation with shaft is in any angular position to which the frame may be adjusted. The shaft I l has mounted on the outer end thereof a cylinder 22, which is of the double acting type fluid cylinder. Pipes 23 and are adapted to direct fluid through rotary coupling to opposite ends of the cylinder to enable the selective operation of the piston P for longitue-.. al movement of rod 26 for opening and closing a discharge door 21. The discharge door 74".? has a series of lugs 23 secured to an annular lip 2% so as to enable the connection of clevises thereto. The other end of the clevises are connected to radial bars 3! which are pivotally connected to a hub 32. By the movement of the axial rod 2%; by piston P, shown in Fig. 4 the discharge door 2? may be moved from full outline position as shown in Fig. 1 to the dash outline position or vice versa by the proper application or" fluid pressure to the piston P.

The charging end of drum is has a charge opening 33 therein which is adapted to be closed by a closure 3t which fits in fluid tight. relation with the end of the tube 35. A hand screw 36 is provided for applying pressure to closure 3 As best seen in Fig. 1, the pipe 5% is welded to the tube 35, which pipe extends above the jacket surrounding the rotatable drum, and beyond the same and through the jacket surrounding the discharge door 2?, for the purpose of Y discharging any excess halogen gas that might be in the drum in at the time for discharging the seeds from the drum. The pipe also extends through a slotted bracket 52 secured to the upper cross member as. A rod 5! is also welded to the tube 35, extending downwardly therefrom through another bracket 52 secured to the lower cross member 49. The pipe 50, and rod 55, extending through the brackets 52 serve to prevent rotation of the member 9 and its associated parts, forming the charging opening of the rotatable drum, when the drum is rotated.

The pipe 59 is provided with a valve ill, for the purpose of closing on the passage of gas from the rotatable drum to the jacket enclosing the discharge door 21. A branch pipe 58 enters the pipe 58, as indicated in Fig. 1, below the valve 5?, and this branch pipe is provided with a valve 58, the halogen gas m y be rr a suitable pump 39.

mitted to the rotatable drum, and prevented from discharging into the casing surrounding the discharge door 2?, or if the valve 59 is closed, the valve may be opened, any excess halogen gas in the rotatable drum at the time of discharging the cottonseed therefrom, will be discharged through the pipe Eil into the casing surrounding the discharge door 2'1.

As best seen in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the tube forming the charging opening of the drum may be somewhat offset from the center of the member 9 to make available an area of said member for the application of one or more indicating instruments, such as the temperature indicator 555, or a pressure gauge, so that the conditions prevailing in the interior of the drum can be seen at all times.

A jacket having parts .3 and J is secured to frame member 3' so as to enclose the drum l8 therein. A gas burner B is provided beneath Id within jacket part J so that the heat therefrom will be directed against the lower portion of the drum is. It is preferable to have he burner B connected with a hose or other resilient coupling 3'! so as to enable the burner to move with frame 3 when elevated by plunger of the fluid cylinder 5. rhis fluid cylinder has an inlet in the lower end thereof to which a pipe 38 is connected for directing pressure from Upon release of the fluid from the cylinder t by a valve V, the weight of the frame 3 will cause the cylinder to return to position, as shown in Fig. 1.

The drum ill has bafiies or ribs around the inner periphery thereof forming in effect a tumbler so as to cause the agitation motion of the seed when the drum is is rotated. These ribs preferably extend the entire length of the cylinder and are parallel with the axis thereof so that upon the raising of the hydraulic plunger i, the seed will move along the ribs and discharge thrcugh annular opening formed between discharge door 2? and the end of drum it when the door 2! is inopen position, as shown in dash outline in Fig. 1.

A chute ii is provided at the discharge end of drum ii? for directing the delinted cotton seed into a suitable conduit or container. A jacket surrounds the discharge door 2? which jacket has inter-fitting relation with the outturned flange .2 formed within inturned flange d3.

Vent pipes i l are provided in the upper portion of jacket part J to enable the products of combustion to pass outward therefrom.

In the operation of the invention as described above, it will be seen that the cottonseed. to be delinted is introduced into the rotatable drum ill through the tubular member 35, which introduction takes place during the rotation of the whereby the agitation of the seed by the ribs 49 about the interior of the drum will prevent the same from becoming overheated. The closure 34 is then clamped in fluid tight relation with the end of the tube 35, and the valve 5? is closed, after which the valve 553 may be opened to introduce halogen gas into the drum during the period of treatment of the seed.

At the termination of the treating process, the valve 53 is closed, and the valve 5'? opened, to permit excess halogen gas to escape from the interior of the drum through the pipe 59 and into the chamber surrounding the discharge door 21. The device may then be elevated at its charging end by operation of the hydraulic cylinder 5, so that the drum slopes downwardly toward the dis- .charged through tube '4 I charge end, and the discharge door 21 is then opened to permitthe treated seed to be'dis- When desired the device may be elevated at V the charging end by operation of the hydraulic cylinder 5, in order to facilitate the introduction {of cottonseed into the rotatable drum. .It will also be apparent that the treatment of the cottonseed can be carriedout continuously,since a new supply of cottonseed can be introduced into the .drum immediately after discharge of the pre- -ing end of the device are secured together by horizontal frame members 63 and B4, andthe uprights at the opposite end, ofthe frame are secured together by a'horizontal frame member 65, which at its mid portion supports a bearing structure 6G for the rotatable drum 61.

The drum 6'! is formed with a conical portion 68 at its open end, which rests upon rollers H1 supported on the lower frame member 63, for rotationthereon. An additional roller H is supported on'the upper frame member 64, which serves as a guide to maintain the drum in the same relative position with the frame, at all times.

The closed end of the drum, indicated at '53 is provided exteriorly with stiffening flanges 15, which serve to form a rigid structure capable of withstanding the pressure of gas in the drum during the treatment of seed therein. The flanges also bear against the vertical surface of the bearing 66, as indicated at 16, in Fig. 10, thus enabling the structure to withstand relatively high thrust in the direction of the bearing 66.

The hollow shaft 18, upon which a sprocket wheel 19 is secured, extends through the bearing 66, and is attached to the closed end of the drum, as best seen in Fig. 10. The shaft '18 has an annular flange at its outer end, indicated at 80, and a male member 8! of a packing gland is secured to the flange Bl by bolts 83, for compressing pack- 7 ing material into the cavity 84 of the packing gland; Through the power shaft 18 and the packing gland extends a pipe 86 opening into the rotatable drum, for the purpose of introducing halogen gas into the interior of the drum. 7

A charging and discharging opening is provided at the conical end of the drum, which opening is closed by a hinged closure 88, clamped in fluid tight relation to the opening by a hand screw 89. h

The, rotatable drum 6'! is enclosed in a jacket structure having upper and lower parts K and K respectively, the upper part K being provided with pipes 98, for the purpose of conducting away the products of combustion produced by a burner 92 located beneath the rotatable drum. The gas burner 92 is preferably connected to a source of fuel by a hose 94, to permit the burner to move with the frame when the same is elevated.

A motor M suitably supported by the'frame and movable therewith, drives thesprocket 19 through chain 98 to rotate the drum in a manner similar tothat pointed out in connection with the previously described embodiment of the invention.v V -HUE One or more indicating instruments, such as a temperature indicator 9'6, seen inFig. 8, may be scribed may be applied to the modified form of the invention at the end of the frame which supports the closed endof the drum, and the frame may be pivoted at the opposite end to the sup- "porting structure, to permit the device to be tilted to discharge the contents of the drum. I The burner 92 can be left on during the charging and discharging of the drum, keeping the drum in rotation, to assure the thorough agitation of the seed, f

Having thus described the invention, I claim: 1. In a device :for delinting cottonseed a base, means pivotally connecting said base with a frame member, a jacket surrounding said frame and forming a furnace compartment, a vent pipe connected with said furnace compartment for venting the products of combustion therefrom, means journaling a tumbler within said furnace compartment,= power means for rotating said tumbler, an inlet opening formed, in an end of said tumbler for charging said tumbler with cottonseed while rotating, means forming a quick opening closure for said inlet opening, a discharge opening formed in the opposite end of said tumbler, means forming a closure at said opposite end of said tumbler, toggle means for effecting a sealing action between said closure and said tumbler while said tumbler is rotating, and

heating means within said furnace compartment,

for heating said tumbler while said tumbler is rotating.

2. In a device for delinting cottonseed, a base, a frame, means pivotally connecting said base with said frame, a jacket mounted on said frame and forming 'a furnace compartment, a vent opening formed in said jacket for venting products of combustion therefrom, a drum, bearing means journalling said drum within said furnace compartment, an inlet opening formed in an end of said drum to enable the charging of said drum with cottonseed while said drum is rotating, power means mounted on said frame and connected to said drum in driving relation thereto, closure means for closing said inlet opening'in positive pressure tight relation, a discharge opening formed in the end of said drum opposite said inlet opening, closure means for closing said discharge opening in positivepressure tight relation, means for operating each of said'closure means while said drum is rotating, heating means within said furnace compartment for heating said drum, a visually readable temperature indicator means in an end of said drum for indicating the temperature within said drum, means for directing a halogen gas under pressure through an end of said drum into said drum, and means for elevating said drum while rotating.

,3. In a device for .delinting cottonseed, a base, a drum pivotally connected to the base and hav- The same ar-' rangement of hydraulic jacks as previously deacaaacs ing a conical end portion, an opening formed in said conical end for passage of cottonseed, closure means for closing said opening in said drum in pressure tight relation, means journailing said drum for rotation, power means connected to said drum in drivin relation, a jacket mounted about said drum and forming a furnace chamber, heating means in the chamber positioned beneath said drum so as to position it in a longitudinally separated relation to the opening in said conical end of said drum, conduit means for introducing a halogen gas into said drum While said drum is rotating, and means for tilting said drum relative to said base while said drum is rotating in order to discharge the deiinted seed and the cornbustible ii-nt therefrom to a point exterior or said furnace chamber.

' 4. In a device for delinting cottonseed, a base, a drum 'pivotally connected to the base and having aconical end portion, a single opening formed in the conical end of said drum for the introduction of the raw cottonseed and the removal of delinted cottonseed after treatment, closure means for closing said opening in said drum in pressure tight relation, means journalling said drum for rotation, power means connected to said drum in driving relation, a jacket mounted about said drum and forming a furnace chamber, heating means in the chamber positioned beneath said drum so as to position it in alongitudinally separated relation to the opening in said conicalend of said drum, conduit means for introducing a halogen gas into said drum while said drum is rotating, the end of the drum opposite the conical end of the drum having a relatively small opening formed therein for introduction of said halogen gas, and means for tilting said drum relative to said base while said drum is rotating in order to discharge the delinted seed and the combustible lint to a point exterior of said furnace chamber.

ROBERT L, JACKSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 248,000 White Oct. 4, 1881 660,579 Leonard Oct. 30, 1900 822,460 Machlet June 5, 1906 1,671,511 Carson May 29, 1928 1,952,59 Jacobson Mar. 27, 1934 2,603,552 Jackson July 15, 1952 

